Special Christmas brownies

Preparation

Chop the dark chocolate. Chop the unsalted butter.

Method

1. 1 Heat the oven to 180°c/350°F/ gas 4 (160°c for fan ovens). Grease and line a shallow baking tin, leaving a bit of the paper overhanging the lengths of the tray (this will make it easier to remove the brownies).
2. 2 Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Allow to cool.
3. 3 Place the eggs, sugar and vanilla in an electric mixer and beat for 3-4 minutes, until pale and fluffy.
4. 4 Transfer to a mixing bowl, then beat in the cooled chocolate mixture.
5. 5 Sift in the flour, cocoa, baking powder and a pinch of salt, then fold in with a large metal spoon until smooth.
6. 6 Gently fold in the mincemeat.
7. 7 Transfer the mixture to the tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until firm to the touch but still a bit fudgy in the centre.
8. 8 Allow to cool in the tin, then remove, sprinkle with icing sugar and cut into squares.